Homicide Investigators call on FBI

Investigators working the homicide case of a woman found dead in The Highlands neighborhood last week believe that the killer was young and lives in the area.

Charles Dorsey, a retired FBI agent, worked with investigators to develop a criminal profile of whoever killed Kate Ragsdale, in The Highlands neighborhood last week.

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Investigators working the homicide case of a woman found dead in The Highlands neighborhood last week believe that the killer was young and lives in the area.

Charles Dorsey, a retired FBI agent, worked with investigators to develop a criminal profile of whoever killed Kate Ragsdale.

His initial analysis determined that it is “likely that the offender was young in age and lived in close proximity to the Ragsdale residence,” said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander Capt. Loyd Baker.

“It is also probable that the offender walked to and from the crime scene. The profile indicates this individual was familiar with this location. The offender appears to exhibit an ‘extreme lack of criminal sophistication,'” Baker said.

No potential suspect should be eliminated based on the profile alone, he said.

Baker said that the homicide is a priority for the unit's investigators and said that they are continuing to canvass the area to solicit information from residents of the neighborhood off University Boulevard at the entrance of Alberta.

Video surveillance footage has been collected and analyzed, he said. Dozens of leads have been discarded and others are still under investigation.

“A great deal of progress has been made regarding the crime scene investigation and evidence processing,” Baker said.

Baker said that the killer has most likely displayed tremendous behavioral changes.

“This behavior change will be obvious to the offender's, peers, friends and family,” he said. “Investigators are asking these people to contact them with this information.”